N9995A

On June 12, 1996, at about 1815 eastern daylight time, a Little Scamp, N9995A, a homebuilt airplane, collided with trees at the end of the runway after the airplane's engine lost partial power during takeoff at the Ashland-Boyd County Airport, in Worthington, Kentucky. The pilot, the sole occupant, sustained minor injuries, and the airplane sustained substantial damage. Visual meteorological conditions existed for the local personal flight, and no flight plan was filed. The flight was conducted under 14 CFR Part 91.

The pilot stated that the engine run-up and takeoff seemed normal, but that the airplane failed to establish a good rate of climb after takeoff. The pilot reported that he was "out of options [and] landed straight ahead...impacted tree[s on the] other side."

The former owner/builder of the experimental airplane stated that he built the airplane in 1980, and that he had sold the airplane to the present owner on December 3, 1995. Records indicate that the airplane had not been flown since it was refueled on August 12, 1995. On August 12, 1995, five (5) gallons of 100 LL fuel were pumped into the airplane.

One witness observed the airplane "...flying really low and it went sideways a little and [then] hit 2 trees." Witnesses reported that there was a strong smell of fuel, and they noted fuel leaking out of the airplane at the accident site.

The pilot told the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Inspector that, although the airplane seemed to produce full power on takeoff, it was a hot day and the takeoff ground roll was longer than usual. The pilot reported 1 hour of total flight time in the accident make and model airplane. The FAA Inspector stated that he was unable to obtain a fuel sample to test for fuel contamination, because the fuel had leaked from the airplane at the accident site. According to the FAA Inspector, an engine teardown was conducted, and there was no evidence of preimpact mechanical anomaly.